Refrigerator shelf mounting structure



p 21, 1954 w. CHAMBERS ETAL 2,689,778

REFRIGERATOR SHELF MOUNTING STRUCTURE Filed April 16 l95l 3 Sheets-Sheetl AMZYW Sept. 21, 1954 Filed April 16, 1951 W. L. CHAMBERS ETALREFRIGERATOR SHELF MOUNTING STRUCTURE IIE-a. 5

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 liar :2; a.

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REFRIGERATOR SHELF MOUNTING STRUCTURE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16,1951 Patented Sept. 21, 1954 REFRIGERATOR SHELF MOUNTING STRUCTUREWorthy L. Chambers,

Koneies, Libertyville,

Chicago, and Joseph H.

111., assignors to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of New York Application April 16, 1951, Serial No. 221,238

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-351) This invention relates generally to refrigeratorstructures, and refers more particularly to improvements in mountingsfor shelves, crisper pans or other containers.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a mountingstructure composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of beinginexpensively manufactured and installed within the storage compartmentof a refrigerator cabinet to support shelves and/ or containers in amanner such as to enable the latter to be readily removed from andinserted into the storage compartment through the usual access opening.

It is another object of this invention to provide a retaining railsubstantially channel shaped in cross section for receiving a part, suchfor example as a shelf, to be supported within the storage compartmentof a refrigerator, and having means coacting with means on said part tohold the latter against lateral shifting movement relative to the rail.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pair of railsarranged in superposed seating relationship for independently supportingan open top container and a shelf or closure panel above the open top ofthe container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a construction ofthe above general type wherein the bottom container supporting rail issecured in place by fastener elements and wherein the top shelfretaining rail is positioned in seating engagement with the bottom railby cooperating engaging means on the rails. Thus the shelf retainingrail is held in place on the container supporting rail without the useof separate fastening means, and may be readily removed by merelylifting the shelf off the container supporting rail.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a refrigeratorcabinet with the door removed and showing containers or crisper panssupported at the bottom of the storage compartment;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; V

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the mountingstructure embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1--1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the containers or crisper pans;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Iii-l0 of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form ofconstruction; and

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figure11.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 10inclusive, it will be noted that the numeral l0 designates arefrigerator having a cabinet I I comprising an outer shell I2,

an inner shell l3 and suitable insulating material M housed in the spaceprovided between the shells. The inner shell I 3 defines a storagecompartment and has an opening through the front Wall which registerswith an opening in the front wall of the outer shell [2 to provide anaccess opening [5 to the storage compartment. In accordance withconventional practice the access opening I5 is closed by a door (notshown) suitably hinged along one side edge to the adjacent side of thecabinet H. The storage compartment is refrigerated by the usualapparatus shown in part in Figure 2 of the drawings and designated bythe numeral [6. The part l6 of the refrigerating apparatus comprises amotor-compressor unit I! suitably supported in the rear of the cabinet I1 below the outer shell i2. The bottom wall l8 of the outer shell I2 isbowed upwardly adjacent the rear edge thereof to provide ample clearancefor the motor-compressor unit i1 and the bottom wall l9 of the innershell is inclined in an upward direction to afford ample clearance abovethe bowed portion for insulation.

Supported in the storage compartment at the bottom of the latter is apair of containers in the form of crisper pans 20 open at the top. Thepans 20 are supported in lateral spaced side by side relationship, andthe open top portions thereof are respectively closed by panels 2|independently supported directly above the respective pans 20. Thepanels 2| also serve as shelves in the storage compartment, and arepreferably formed of glass or some equivalent transparent material. Thepans 20 are identical in construction and may be formed of any suitablematerial. In the present instance the pans 20 are shown as formed of aplastic or plastic composition; and each pan has integral front,

rear, side and bottom walls 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively. The frontwalls 22 of the pans are ribbed transversely, and are suitably fashionedat the upper edges to accommodate trim moldings 2B. The trim moldings 26are fashioned with forwardly and downwardly curved flanges 2'! whichserve as handles for the pans.

The opposite side walls 24 of each pan are offset laterally inwardly asat 28 to reduce the width of the pans and the offset portions are turnedlaterally outwardly at the top of the walls 24 to form flanges 29 havinga Width approximating the extent to which the side walls are offset. Thebottom wall 25 of each pan 23 is inclined upwardly from a pointintermediate the ends of the pan to afford clearance for the upwardlyinclined part of the bottom wall IQ of the inner shell 13. Positionedbetween adjacent side walls 2% of the crisper pans 23 is a guide 33which may be formed in any suitable manner from various materials.Particularly satisfactory results have been obtained by forming theguide 3!] of molded plastic. In any case the guide as comprises ahorizontal section 3! and a vertical section or post 32 at one end ofthe section 3i. In assembly the post 32 is positioned between thecrisper pans 23 at the front ends of the latter, and is fashioned with afront wall 33 which forms in appearance a continuation of the frontWalls 22 of the pans 20 when the latter are in their rearwardmostpositions in the storage compartment. In this connection it is to benoted that the wall 33 on the post is transversely ribbed to correspondwith the ribbing on the front walls 22 of the pans 20. The bottom of thepost has attaching lugs 34 which are secured to the bottom wall IQ ofthe inner shell l3 by suitable fastener elements 35. The upper end ofthe post 32 is fashioned to accommodate a mold" ing trim strip 36identical in shape to the molding trim strips 26 provided on the pans23.

The horizontal section 31 of the guide is provided with verticallyspaced supports 31 integrally connected by transverse and longitudinalribs 33. As shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, the trans verse ribs 38terminate short of the opposite sides ofthe supports 31, and providelaterally opening channels 39 for respectively slidably receiving theflanges 29 on adjacent side walls 26 of the pans 20. The rear end of thehorizontal section 31 has attaching ears 10, and the latter are securedto the rear wall of the inner shell [3 by fastener elements d1. As shownin Figure 4 of the drawings the elevation of the horizontal section 3|is such that the channels 39 cooperate with the flanges 29 on the pansto support the latter with the bottom walls 25 spaced vertically abovethe bottom wall E9 of the inner shell l3. It will also be noted that theopposite side edges of the top support 3'! on the horizontal section 3!provide seats for supporting the adjacent edges of the glass panels orshelves 2!.

The outer edges of the glass panels 2! and the corresponding side edgesof the pans 20 are respectively supported by rails d2 and 23. As shownin Figure of the drawings, the rails 22 and 23 are channel shaped incross section, and the top rails 42 are seated on the top surfaces ofthe guide rails 43. Both rails extend rearwardly from the access openingl5 in the cabinet along the inner surfaces of opposite side walls of theinner shell l3, and are arranged with the channels opening laterallyinwardly. The bottom guide rails 43 respectively slidably receive theadjacent flanges 29 on the pans 20, and the base portions 44 of theguide rails 43 are secured to the adjacent side walls of the inner shell[3 by fastener elements 35. The top rails 62 respectively receive theadjacent marginal edges of the glass panels and serve as retainer stripsfor the glass panels. It will be noted from Figure 5 of the drawingsthat suitable lips 53 and 2-1 extend laterally outwardly from oppositesides of the base portions 48 of the retainer rails 22. The lips 46respectively intimately engage adjacent side walls of the inner shell [3to provide a fluidtight seal, and the lips d1 project into recesses '69.The recesses 49 are fashioned by undercutting the base portions 44 ofthe bottom rails 33 along the top edges of the base portions, so thatwhen the rails 43 are secured in place by the fastener elements 45, theundercut portions coact with the adjacent walls of the inner shell toprovide the recesses 49.

The rails d3 may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic orplastic compositions and possess the requisite strength to effectivelysupport the pans 20 and shelves 2i. The shelf retainer rails 42 areformed of a flexible resilient material, such for example, as extrudedplastic and the flanges of the retainer rails yieldably grip theadjacent marginal edges of the shelves 2!. The retainer rails 42 areassembled on the outer marginal edges of the shelves 2i before theshelves are installed in the storage compartment, and the bottom flangesof the channelshaped retainer rails 32 respectively rest on the topflanges of the pan supporting rails d3. As stated above the dependinglips ll on the retainer rails 42 extend into the recesses 23, and theupstanding lips 43 respectively yieldably engage the inner sides of thestorage compartment to provide a fluid-tight seal. It will be noted fromthe above that lateral shifting of the shelves and retainer rails 32relative to the supporting rails 43 is prevented by engagement of thelips 41 in the recesses 19. However, the shelves 2i, together with theretainer rails 32 may be readily removed by merely lifting the shelvesoff the supporting rails 23. Thus the shelves 2i and crisper pans 23 maybe inserted into and removed from the storage chamber independently ofone another.

The top surfaces of the shelves or glass panels 2| are formed withlaterally spaced longitudinally extending ribs 59. The top flanges ofthe retainer rails 42 are in turn formed with longitudinally extendinggrooves 5i in the inner surfaces thereof for respectively receiving theadjacent ribs 50 on the glass panels 2!. It follows from the above thatthe glass panels 2i are held against shifting movement laterally withrespect to the retainer rails 42 by the interlocking engagement betweenthe ribs 56 and grooves 5i;

Upon reference to Figure 10 of the drawings, it will be noted that theglass panels 21 are positioned fore and aft of the retainer rails 52 byprojections 53 respectively extending upwardly from the top flanges ofthe guide rails 33 at opposite ends of the latter. The projections 53 atthe front ends of the guide rails 43 are especially important in thatthey prevent accidental displacement of the glass shelves and retainerrails 42 in an outward direction relative to the supporting rails 43.However, the glass shelves 2| together with the retainer rails 42 may beremoved when desired by merely moving the same vertically relative tothe supporting rails 43.

In order to prevent accidental disengagement Y of the crisper pans 20from their respective guides,

it will be noted that each crisper pan is fashioned with astop orprojection 54 at opposite sides thereof. The stops 54 project downwardlyfrom the flanges 29 adjacent the rear ends of the crisper pans, andrespectively engage stops 55 formed on the bottom flanges of the guiderails 43. Similar stops 56 may be provided on the bottom support 39 ofthe guide 30, if desired. In this connection attention is again calledto Figure 5 of the drawings, wherein it will be noted that the width ofthe channels formed by the guides 43 is sufficiently greater than theelevation of the stops 55 to enable lifting the pans 20 the requireddistance to clear the stops 55 when it is desired to completely removethe pans from the storage compartment. A similar distance is providedbetween the supports 31 of the central guide 30 so that clearance isprovided between the stops 54 and the stops '55, 56 when the pans areraised to remove the same from the storage compartment.

In some instances it is desirable to eliminate one of the crisper pans20 and associated shelf or panel 2| so that a storage space ofsubstantial height may be provided in the storage compartment of therefrigerator cabinet. With this in view reference is made to Figures 11and 12, wherein it will be noted that provision is made for mounting asingle crisper pan in the storage compartment adjacent one side wall ofthe latter. The outer flange 29 on the crisper pan and the adjacentmarginal edge of the associated glass panel or shelf 2| areindependently supported in the same manner previously described inconnection with Figure 5 of the drawings, and the same referencenumerals are used to indicate corresponding parts. The central supportfor the crisper pan 20 and associated glass panel 2| is somewhatdifferent, however, since it is not necessary to make provision forsupporting a second crisper pan thereon.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12 the central support comprises a verticalpost 66 and a horizontal section 6| projecting rearwardly from the topof the post. The post 66 is positioned to the rear of the oifset portion28 on the adjacent side of the pan 20 and is secured at the lower end tothe bottom wall IQ of the inner shell [3 by a bracket 62. The horizontalsection 6| projects rearwardly from the post 60 and is secured to therear wall of the inner shell by a suitable bracket 63. As shownparticularly in Figure 11 of the drawings, the horizontal section has anupwardly extending rib 64 intermediate the opposite side edges thereof,and this rib is turned laterally to form a flange 65. The flange 65cooperates with the top wallof the horizontal section 6| to form a guidechannel 66 into which the adjacent flange 29 on the pan extends. The topof the flange 65 has laterally spaced longitudinally extending ribs 61,which serve as bearing surfaces for supporting the adjacent marginaledge of the glass panel 2|. If desired suitable stops 68 may be providedon the horizontal section 6| adjacent the front end of the latter forengagement with the stops 54 on the pan to limit outward movement of thepan.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a storage compartment and havingan access opening registering with the storage compartment, a panelmember extending transversely of the storage compartment, a retainerrail member carried by the panel member and extending along one marginaledge of the panel member, said retainer rail member having verticallyspaced resilient flanges respectively engaging opposite sides of thepanel member adjacent said marginal edge and frictionally gripping thepanel member to secure the retainer rail member in assembledrelationship with the panel member, a rib on one of the membersextending in the direction of :length of the retainer rail member andengageable in a groove in the other of said members to hold the latteragainst relative lateral shifting movement, a container guide railforming a seat for the retainer rail and secured to the ad- :J'acentwall of the cabinet beneath the retainer rail, and cooperatinginterengaging means on the rails releasable upon lifting the paneltogether with the retainer rail relative to the guide rail.

2. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a storage compartment and havingan access opening registering with the storage compartment, a panelextending transversely of the storage compartment, a retainer railcarried by the panel and respectively extending along one side edge ofthe panel, said retainer rail having vertically spaced resilient flangesrespectively engaging opposite sides of the panel and frictionallygripping the panel therebetween to secure the retainer rail in assembledrelationship with the panel, a rib projecting from one side of the panelin a position to engage in a groove in the adjacent flange of theretainer rail to hold the latter and panel against lateral shiftingmovement, and a sup porting rail secured to the inner side of thecabinet in a position below the retainer rail for engagement by theretainer rail to support the latter and adjacent edge of the panelwithin the cabinet.

3. The structure defined in claim 2. wherein the supporting rail has avertical shoulder cooperating with the adjacent side of the cabinet toprovide an upwardly opening groove and wherein the retainer rail has adepending lip engageable in said groove to hold the retainer rail inassembled relationship with the supporting rail.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein the retainer rail has aresilient lip engageable with adjacent side of the cabinet for urgingthe depending lip on said retainer rail laterally inwardly intofrictional contact with said shoulder.

5. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a refrigerated storagecompartment and having an access opening in the front wall registeringwith the storage compartment, 2. guide rail in the storage compartmentextending rearwardly from the access opening and secured to the adjacentside wall of the compartment, said guide rail having vertically spacedflanges projecting inwardly from said adjacent wall and extendinglengthwise of the guide rail, a shelf in the storage compartment abovethe guide rail, a retainer rail extending along the marginal edge of theshelf adjacent the guide rail and having vertically spaced resilientflanges cooperating with one another to grip the shelf therebetween, thebottom flange on the retainer rail having a seating engagement with thetop flange on the guide rail, and cooperating interengaging means onsaid rails preventing relative lateral shifting movement of the railsand disengageable upon raising the shelf together with the retainer railupwardly relative to the guide rail.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 wherein the cooperatinginterengaging means comprises alip depending from the retainer rail anda vertical shoulder on the guide rail engaged by the inner side of saidlip.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein the retainer rail has anupwardly projecting resilient lip yieldably engageable with the adjacentside of the storage compartment and cooperating with said side to urgethe depending lip on the retainer rail inwardly into frictional contactwith said shoulder on the guide rail.

8. The structure defined in claim"? wherein the upwardly projecting lipon the retainer rail extends for substantially the full length of theretainer rail and forms a seal between the shelf and adjacent side ofthe storage compartment, and wherein the lip on the retainer rail isdisengageable from the shoulder on the guide rail upon lifting the shelftogether with the retainer rail relative to the guide rail.

9. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a refrigerated storagecompartment and having an access opening in the front wall registeringwith the storage compartment, a, guide rail in the storage compartmentextending rearwardly from the access opening and secured to the adjacentside wall of the compartment, said guide rail having vertically spacedflanges projecting inwardly from said adjacent wall and extendinglengthwise of the guide rail, a shelf in the storage compartment abovethe guide rail, aretainer rail extending along the marginal edge of theshelf adjacent the guide rail and having vertically spaced resilientflanges cooperating with one another to grip the shelf therebetween, thebottom flange on the retainer rail having a seating engagement with thetop flange on the guide rail, means at the top of the guide railcooperating with the adjacent side of the storage compartment to form anupwardly opening groove extending lengthwise of the guide rail, and alip depending from the retainer rail into the groove and releasable fromsaid groove upon lifting the shelf together with the retainer railrelative to the guide rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 362,457 Moore May 3, 1887 1,504,522 Sherer Aug. 12, 19242,114,170 Ball Apr. 12, 1938 2,192,562 Scott Mar. 5, 1940 2,194,177Rundell Mar. 19, 1940 2,261,078 Shockey Oct. 28, 1941 2,311,411 NaveFeb. 15, 1943 2,323,957 Zalkind. July 13, 1943 2,338,889 Yoxsimer Jan.11, 1944 2,408,194 Bourdius Sept. 24, 1946

